Species:

Ophisops microlepis  BLANFORD, 1870

Synonyms:

Ophisops (Gymnops) microlepis   BLANFORD, 1870

Gymnops microlepis   STOLICZKA, 1872

Ophisops microlepis   SMITH, 1935

Common names:

Small-scaled Snake-eyed Lizard (English)
Schlangenaugeneidechse (German)

Types:

Holotype: ZSI 2236; syntype: BMNH 1946.8.6.12 (?)

Terra Typica:

‘Korba in Biláspúr, the eastern part of Chhatisgarh division, Central Province’ (in Madhya Pradesh, central India).

Relevant taxonomic literature:

• Blanford, W.T. (1870) -  Description of Ophisops microlepis. -  In: “Notes on some Reptilia and Amphibia from Central India”. - Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol. XXXIX, part II (Natural History) nr 4, p 335-376, pl XIV-XVI.  

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• Agarwal, I. & Khandekar, A. & Ramakrishnan, U. & Vyas, R. & Giri, V.B. (2018) -  Two new species of the Ophisops microlepis (Squamata: Lacertidae) complex from northwestern India with a key to Indian Ophisops. -  Journal of Natural History, London, 52 (13-16): 819-847.    

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  We describe two new species of the lacertid genus Ophisops based on a series of 19 specimens from semi-arid habitats in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in northwestern India, provide a description of Ophisops microlepis sensu stricto, and a key to Indian Ophisops. Ophisops pushkarensis sp. nov. and Ophisops kutchensis sp. nov. are allied to Ophisops microlepis and can be diagnosed from all other Indian Ophisops by the fusion of the lower and upper eyelids, their large body size (snout to vent length > 50 mm), and ≥ 50 scales around midbody. They differ from O. microlepis and each other in the number of scales around midbody, the number of dorsal scales, subtle colour pattern differences, as well as uncorrected mitochondrial sequence divergence (6–9%). These are some of the only known endemic reptiles in these semi-arid landscapes and indicate that many other such habitats may harbour endemic biodiversity.